Again Cheng Yu said； 〃Liu Bei is certain to rise to the top。 He will never remain in a subordinate position。 You had better remove him。〃
Cao Cao answered； 〃Now is just the time to make use of good people。 I will not forfeit the regard of the world for the sake of removing one individual。 Guo Jia and I both see this in the same light。〃
Wherefore Cao Cao rejected all persuasion to work against Liu Bei but sent him three thousand soldiers and ten thousand carts of grain； and set him on his way to Yuzhou。 Liu Bei was to march to Xiaopei； occupy it； call together his former soldiers； and attack Lu Bu。
When Liu Bei reached Yuzhou； he sent to inform Cao Cao； who prepared to march an army to subjugate Lu Bu。 But just then hasty news came that Zhang Ji； who had gone to the attack of Nanyang； had been wounded by a stray arrow and had died。 His nephew； Zhang Xiu； had succeeded to the mand of his army； and with Jia Xu as strategist； Zhang Xiu had joined Liu Biao and camped at Wancheng。 They intended to attack the capital and get possession of the Emperor's person。
Cao Cao was placed in a quandary。 He would go to attack this bination； but he feared lest Lu Bu would attack the capital if he left it。 So he sought the advice of Xun Yu。
Said the Adviser； 〃Lu Bu has no notion of a policy。 He is led astray by any little advantage that presents itself to his eyes。 All you need do is to obtain promotion for him； giving him some additional title； and tell him to make peace with Liu Bei； and he will do it。 The south is no threat then。〃
〃Good；〃 said Cao Cao。
And he acted upon the hint and sent an Imperial Legate； Wang Ze； to Xuzhou with the official announcement and a letter urging peace； while he went on with preparations to meet the other danger from Zhang Xiu。
When ready Cao Cao marched out with one hundred fifty thousand troops in three divisions。 Xiahou Dun was the Van Leader； and they went to River Yu and camped there。
Jia Xu succeeded in persuading Zhang Xiu of the hopelessness of resistance。
〃You would do well to surrender； since Cao Cao's army is too large for you to oppose；〃 said Jia Xu。
Seeing the truth of this； Zhang Xiu sent his adviser to propose sub mission。 Cao Cao was greatly pleased with the messenger； admiring his ready and fluent repartee； and tried to win him to his service。
〃I was formerly with Li Jue and was guilty with him。 Now I am with Zhang Xiu who esteems my advice； and I should not like to abandon him；〃 said Jia Xu。
Jia Xu left and next day conducted his master into Cao Cao's presence。 Cao Cao was very generous。 Then he entered Wancheng with a small force； the greater part of the army being put in camp outside where the lines extended some three miles。 Great banquets were given every day by Zhang Xiu； and Cao Cao was always being entertained。
One day； when Cao Cao returned to his quarters in a more than usual merry mood； he asked the attendants if there were any singing girls in the city。
His nephew； Cao Amin； heard the question and said； 〃Peeping through one of the partitions last evening； I saw a perfectly beautiful woman in one of the courts。 They told me she was the wife of Zhang Ji； Zhang Xiu's uncle。 She is very lovely。〃
Cao Cao； inflamed by the description given him of the beauty； told his nephew to go and bring her to visit him。 Cao Amin did so； supported by an armed escort； and very soon the woman stood before Cao Cao。
She was a beauty indeed； and Cao Cao asked her name。
She replied； 〃Thy handmaid was wife to Zhang Ji； I was born of the Zhou family。〃
〃Do you know who I am？〃
〃I have known the Prime Minister by reputation a long time。 I am happy to see him and be permitted to bow before him；〃 said she。
〃It was for your sake that I allowed Zhang Xiu to submit； otherwise I would have slain him and cut him off root and branch；〃 said Cao Cao。
〃Indeed； then； I owe my very life to you； I am very grateful；〃 said she。
〃To see you is a glimpse of paradise； but there is one thing I should like better。 Stay here and go with me to the capital where I will see that you are properly cared for。 What do you say to that； my lady？〃
She could but thank him。
〃But Zhang Xiu will greatly wonder at my prolonged absence； and gossips will begin to talk；〃 said she。
〃If you like； you can leave the city tomorrow。〃
She did so； but instead of going at once to the capital； she stayed with him among the tents； where Dian Wei was appointed as a special guard over her apartments。 Cao Cao was the only person whom she saw； and he passed the days in idle dalliance with the lady； quite content to let time flow by。
But people told Zhang Xiu what had gone amiss； and he was angry at the shame brought upon the family。
He confided his trouble to Jia Xu who said； 〃Keep this secret； wait till he appears again to carry on business； and then do so and so。〃
A plan was arranged quite secretly。
Next day Zhang Xiu went into Cao Cao's tent； saying； 〃Since the surrendered troops are deserting in great number； it would be well to camp them in the center of your camp to prevent this。〃
Cao Cao gave the permission； and Zhang Xiu moved and placed his army in four camps。
But Dian Wei； the especial guard of Cao Cao's tent； was a man to be feared； being both brave and powerful。 It was hard to know how to attack him。 So counsel was taken with Hu Juer； the mander of one camp and a man of enormous strength and activity。 He could carry a burden of six hundred pounds and two hundred miles in a day。 Hu Juer proposed a plan。
He said； 〃The fearsome thing about Dian Wei is his double halberds。 But get him to e to a party and make him quite drunk before you send him back。 I will mingle among his escort and so get into his tent and steal away his weapons。 One needs not fear him then。〃
So the necessary arms were prepared and orders given in the various camps。 This done Zhang Xiu gave a banquet； and the intended victim was invited and plied vigorously with wine so that he was quite intoxicated when he left。 And； as arranged； Hu Juer mingled with his escort and made away with his weapons。
That night； when Cao Cao was at supper with Lady Zhou； he heard the voices of men and neighing of horses and sent out to ask what it meant。 They told him it was the night patrol going the rounds； and he was satisfied。
Near the second watch of the night again was heard some noise in the rear of his tent； and one of the fodder carts was reported to be burning。
〃One of the soldiers has dropped a spark； there is nothing to be alarmed at；〃 said Cao Cao。
But very soon the fire spread on all sides and became alarming。 Cao Cao called Dian Wei。 But he； usually so alert； was lying down quite intoxicated。
However； the beating of gongs and rolling of drums mingling with his dreams awoke Dian Wei； and he jumped up。 His trusty halberds had disappeared。 The enemy was near。 He hastily snatched up an infantryman's sword and rushed out。 At the gate he saw a crowd of spearmen just bursting in。 Dian Wei rushed at them slashing all around him； and twenty or more fell beneath his blows。 The others drew back。 But the spears stood around him like reeds on the river bank。 Being totally without mail； he was soon wounded in several places。 He fought desperately till his sword snapped and was no